Ninewells Avenue
Pedestrian safety at Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road roundabout
At the request of residents, I raised concerns about the lack of safe crossing points at the Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road roundabout.
On Wave 102 News …
Pavements and crossings – Perth Road at Ninewells Avenue roundabout
Ninewells Avenue – roundabout now tidied

Ninewells Avenue – blocked drain issue resolved
I have recently received complaints about foul smelling water flowing down Ninewells Avenue from beside the former Wimberley flats.
Scottish Water advised me earlier this week that :
“I can confirm our leakage detection team has attended and confirmed the source of water is coming from a blocked drain at the flats opposite. We have now arranged for our squad to attend to clear the blockage.”
I am pleased to advise that the drain blockage is now attended to and a clean up of the area has been undertaken.
Another mobile phone mast – Ninewells Avenue
At the City Council’s Development Management Committee tonight, I moved refusal of yet another mobile phone mast planning application in the West End – this time at Ninewells Avenue and close to Glamis Gardens (formerly Wimberley Court) and the Hillside area.
I made the point that there is too little co-operation in mast sharing between mobile phone companies. This application was by O2 and Vodafone, but there are already three Orange/T-Mobile masts off Riverside Drive and another on the water tower in Yarrow Terrace.
My motion to refuse read :
1. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 1 – “Vibrant and Sustainable Communities” of the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 as the development is likely to impact adversely on the environmental quality enjoyed by local residents by reason of design and layout. There are no material considerations of sufficient strength to justify the granting of planning permission contrary to the policy.
2. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 78 – “Location of Telecommunications Equipment” of the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 as there is a failure to demonstrate that there are no other viable options in respect of alternative locations. There are no material considerations of sufficient strength to justify the granting of planning permission contrary to the policy.
3. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 1 of Dundee City Council’s adopted Non-Statutory “Planning Policies in Relation to Telecommunications Masts and Other Apparatus” as the applicant has failed to investigate all alternative sites in order to minimise the visual impact of the proposal.
4. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 2 “Residential Areas” of Dundee City Council’s adopted Non-Statutory “Planning Policies in Relation to Telecommunications Masts and Other Apparatus” as there is a general presumption against the siting of free standing masts in residential areas unless the mast is sensitively designed and sufficient justification is provided.
Unfortunately, I lost the vote 15-11, so yet another mobile phone mast will be erected in the area.
Temporary Traffic Order – Perth Road
The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Perth Road from Ninewells Avenue to Clovis Duveau Drive.
Access for residents will be maintained where possible.
An alternative route will be available via Riverside Avenue, Riverside Drive (except HGVs) and Perth Road. An alternative route for HGVs will be available via A85 Riverside Drive, South Marketgait, West Marketgait, Hawkhill and Perth Road.
Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Tayside House, Crichton Street, Dundee, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date. If you have any queries please contact the City Council on 433082.
The Council has written to affected residents as follows :
Dear Sir/Madam
properties with driveways will be maintained, though delays will be experienced. Access to Millbay Gardens, Clovis Duveau Drive and Clayhills Grove will also be maintained. We would, however ask that vehicular traffic movements be kept to a minimum, where possible.
Number 42 bus service

Overgrown weeds and grass concerns in the West End


I have had numerous complaints from West End constituents about overgrown weeds on pavements and roadways and badly overgrown grass on verges and roundabouts in numerous locations in the West End. As a result, I contacted both the City Engineer and the Director of Dundee Contract Services about the concerns.
The Director of Dundee Contract Services has responded as follows:
“The grass cutting of areas of central reserve etc with the daffodil panels is to commence on Monday 15 June. Weather permitting, this will take around two weeks to complete across the city. This is about the normal start time for this work but the combination of rain and heat experienced in May has led to vigorous grass growth of late, perhaps making the situation appear worse than normal.”
The City Engineer has confirmed that the West End and Ninewells and Menzieshill was scheduled to be started this week (commencing 8/06/09) for weed killing.
Last year, there had been numerous complaints about the weedkilling effectiveness and it is important that this is fully tackled this year. The City Engineer has assured me that the strongest permitted weedkiller will be used this year and weedkilling and street sweeping of channels will be coordinated so that they occur at appropriate discrete times.
I am keeping a very close eye on this, in response to residents’ concerns.
New safer speed limit

Speed limit reduction

I am pleased to report that on Monday night, at the Planning & Transport Committee, the City Council committee I chair, agreement was reached to finalise the speed limit reduction on the westmost part of Perth Road (west of the Invercarse), the small stretch of Riverside Drive north of the Marmalade Pot and on Ninewells Avenue.
This follows a consultation exercise – the responses received both from residents and from West End Community Council strongly supported the speed reduction.
The fact that the speed limit in this area has been 40mph, whereas all the residential roads east of it are 30mph has always struck me as an anomoly – the speed limit on the Perth Road section was set in the early 1960s when this was the main route to Perth – long before the creation of Riverside Avenue. Furthermore, significant residential housing – such as Clouvis Duveau Drive and Clayhills Grove – has since been built.
River Crescent Residents’ Association has pointed out that the difficulties turning out of River Crescent into Perth Road would be eased by the speed reduction, leaving aside the obvious point that a 40mph limit is inappropriate in what has long become a residential area.
Here is notice of the traffic order, issued by the City Council, following Monday’s decision :
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
DUNDEE
CITY COUNCIL (PERTH ROAD, RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND NINEWELLS AVENUE, DUNDEE) (VARIATION OF SPEED LIMITS) ORDER 2009Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to improve safety by reducing the current 40 mph speed limit to 30 mph.
Full details of the proposals are contained in the draft Order, which together with a Statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined during normal office hours and without payment of fee at Dundee City Council offices, Reception, Floor 4, 21 City Square, Dundee by any person, during a period of 21 days from 16 January 2009.
Any person may within 21 days from
16 January 2009 object to the proposed Order by notice in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), Dundee City Council, 21 City Square, Dundee. Objections should state the name and address of the objector, the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made.PATRICIA McILQUHAM
Depute Chief Executive (Support Services)
A few Tuesday updates …
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Residents have called to say one of the temporary bus stops on Hawkhill is missing (pinched presumably, a common temporary bus stop problem, although this one was attached to a permanent pole, rather than being wholly moveable!) Anyway, have asked the City Council to replace this ASAP as residents complain buses are not stopping at it.
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A concern that the Friendly Bus sheltered shopping service was 45 minutes late today, but, having spoken with Stagecoach Strathtay, pleased to say it was a one-off staffing problem, and nothing to do with the Perth Road gas mains works (the reason for the problems a couple of weeks ago).
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Pleased to hear that the bus bay markings in Ninewells Avenue were finally completed this morning – this had previously proved problematic because of parked cars.
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I have asked the City Council when it can re-open the top of Paton’s Lane at Perth Road as the Turriff gas contractors are now firmly east of here and it would again be possible to access Paton’s Lane at Perth Road from the west.
Stagecoach Strathtay Bus Route Changes
“Cllr Macpherson,
Just a quick explanation of the change to the service 13 route.
It has always been the intention for the 13 to use the link road once it had opened and the service registration has been produced to show this. The link road was due to open last year and until the opening the diversion via Ninewells Avenue was only temporary.
The link road allows us to offer a more direct service to Ninewells Hospital by reducing the journey time to access the hospital. As Neil states in his email, Ninewells Avenue still enjoys a 30 minute service operated by the 42 and 96.
We are reviewing the changes we made to the network in August 2007 and also reviewing the network as a whole, so the comments regarding the service provision along Ninewells Avenue will be noted and consideration will be given to increasing the frequency along this route.”
West End Bus Matters …
I am pleased to say that, following my contacting the Planning & Transportation Department about this, an outbound temporary stop has now been arranged.
The other issue raised by residents was the lack of diversionary signage marking clearly how to get to the Hillside area. I have now had the following feedback from the Director of Planning & Transportation :
“My staff in Road Maintenance and Road Network have reviewed the signage for the diversion to the Hillside area. Two extra temporary signs have been ordered and will be placed on Perth Road either side of Invergowrie Drive junction by this afternoon. The good news is that the works are due for completion by early Wednesday morning ahead of schedule.”
“With regard to the Service 9x and Service 13 they have diverted onto Tom McDonald Avenue from Ninewells Avenue primarily to follow the most direct route to Ninewells Hospital and to provide additional drop off points within the Ninewells Hospital estate which offers a large number of work and health destinations. Ultimately these are commercial decisions made by the bus operators. At this moment the half hourly 42 and 96 will continue to serve Ninewells Avenue.”
And the next issue – residents have, in the past, raised with me the lack of bus services to Ninewells Hospital on a Sunday, for those living in Perth Road west of Blackness Avenue. Until recently, there was no Sunday service (except for services going via Blackness Avenue) but in the recent timetable changes Stagecoach Strathtay introduced a service via Ninewells Hospital several times on Sunday (approximately every two hours) serving the western part of Perth Road.
It is badged as the 16B service and you can obtain the full 16 service timetable from the Seagate Bus Station or by clicking on this link : http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/16pckttt07042008.pdf
Lastly, I recorded an interview with Wave 102 earlier today regarding the impending roadworks on Perth Road that start on Monday. Part of this covered residents’ concerns over bus services and I paste below part of my most recent news release on the subject. I should add that clearly labelled notices should by now be placed on all affected bus stops on Perth Road, and you can see a copy of these by clicking on the headline above :
Following concerns expressed by constituents over the potential effect of impending gas main replacement works in Dundee’s Perth Road, West End Councillor Fraser Macpherson today advised that he has sought assurances regarding residents’ concerns about the need to keep local bus services as accessible as possible.
The roadworks – starting Monday (21st April) – will see no through traffic along Perth Road east of Sinderins, resulting in bus diversions.
Councillor Macpherson said, “During the period of no through traffic getting right along Perth Road, I have been advised that the main bus services will be re-routed via Hawkhill. I have spoken with transportation staff in the City Council about ensuring there is good information posted on bus stops along the affected route, clearly advising of alternative arrangements. There are also bus timetables affixed to bus stops on the diversion stops on Hawkhill, to aid public information.
“Many residents have also asked about the 72 local bus service as it runs south of Perth Road on Roseangle and Magdalen Yard Road.
“I have been assured that it will be able to cover most of its route one way or another for all of the roads disruption period. This is particularly important as many elderly people can’t manage the full uphill walk to Hawkhill. At a meeting earlier this week with Scotland Gas Networks, I was also advised that access to the sheltered housing complexes for the Friendly Bus Shopping Service would also be maintained.”
Bus Timetable – Ninewells Avenue (West) – from 8th April
Bus Timetable – Ninewells Avenue (East) – from 8th April
Variation of Waiting Restrictions
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (VARIATION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2008
Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of varying the provisions of several Waiting Restriction Orders affecting the City. The effect of the Order is set out in the Schedule below.
Full details of the proposals are contained in the draft Order which together with plans showing the lengths of road affected and a Statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined during normal office hours and without payment of fee during a period of 21 days from 22 February 2008 at the following addresses: –
1. Dundee City Council Offices, 4th Floor Reception, 21 City Square, Dundee.
2. Broughty Ferry Neighbourhood Library, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
Any person may within 21 days from 22 February 2008 object to the proposed Order by notice in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), Dundee City Council, 21 City Square, Dundee. Objections should state the name and address of objector, the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made.
PATRICIA McILQUHAM
Depute Chief Executive (Support Services)
Dundee City Council
SCHEDULE (insofar as it covers West End Ward)
1. To improve sightlines at junctions and accesses in Hyndford Street/Speed Street, Ninewells Avenue, Perth Road, Shaftesbury Road.
2. To relieve congestion in Perth Road, Shepherd’s Loan.
3. To relieve congestion and obstruction or damage to verges in Magdalen Yard Road/Richmond Terrace.
4. To adjust waiting restrictions to suit new developments or road layouts in Long Wynd, Brown Street.
5. To adjust restrictions to accommodate a taxi rank in South Tay Street.
6. To relax unnecessarily severe restrictions in Brewery Lane.
7. To allow patient transfer vehicles to use James Black Place.
Ninewells Avenue
The emergency access is now taken from Tom Macdonald Avenue and consequently the need for the same level of restrictions is not so critical.
While promoting the recently introduced restrictions in Invergowrie Drive it was recognised that as with all restrictions there would be a knock-on effect into surrounding residential streets. We have been particularly concerned about Hillside Terrace and Hillside Drive which both have pedestrian links through to the hospital and nursing college. This concern was heightened with the knowledge that the Wimberley Housing complex was to be redeveloped. Up to 60 vehicles were parking here on a daily basis.
Taking these factors into account it was decided to relax some of the restrictions in Ninewells Avenue. There are no houses fronting the Avenue nor do any have vehicular access from the Avenue. The carriageway is 10 metres wide and in my opinion can cope with parking on both sides with two-way traffic.
The restrictions have only been removed on that length between Ninewells Drive and Glamis Road. That length between Ninewells Drive and Perth Road was not considered because of the bend in the road limiting advance visibility.
I should emphasise that the consequence of not removing these lines would probably have meant that the parking would have moved directly into the residential streets causing even more upset to the residents.”
Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road, Seabraes
